Today I wanted to look at the minor league walk and strikeout numbers for the hitters in the Pittsburgh Pirates system. Writing up the Prospect Watch five nights a week and still following the scores just as close the other two nights, it has seemed like the Pirates have a lot of games with 0-1 walks and double-figure strikeout totals recently. It might just seem that way because you notice them more when they happen and there are nine affiliates to follow each day, so chances are it happens every day. Here’s a look at where the affiliates rank in their leagues in walks and strikeouts at each level.
For reference, the strikeout ranks are listed as where they stand in the league in total strikeouts, so a tenth place rank would be good, while second would be a bad spot. Walks would be looked at just the opposite for those same spots, with tenth being bad and second being good.
Indianapolis – The Indians ranks tenth (out of 14 teams) in the league in strikeouts and they are well behind the league leader Columbus, who they play today. Indianapolis has 896 strikeouts, compared to 1,105 for the top spot. On the walk side, the Indians rank next to last with 340, just nine above the bottom spot.
Altoona – The Curve are the club recently that has been having a lot of these lopsided games, so I expected poor results here. They rank fourth out of 12 teams with 934 strikeouts. They rank ninth in walks with 320. The bottom seven teams in walks are fairly close together in the Eastern League.
Bradenton – The Marauders have been striking out a lot this year, but how does it rank compared to the league? Their 1,019 strikeouts are the highest total and it’s really not close to second place (936). The walks have them ranked eighth (out of 12 teams) with 303, and there’s a little distance between both seventh and ninth.
Greensboro – The Grasshoppers have some high strikeout totals, but they also had a few players drawing walks too, so I expected average results here. Turns out that their strikeouts for the level are actually fairly strong, with 922, which ranks them 11th in the league. They have 391 walks, which ranks second in the league, though they have the best walks per game rate. So this team has been better than I realized and strong for their league.
Morgantown – Here’s another team with a strong showing so far this year. The Black Bears rank 11th out of 14 teams in strikeouts with 361 in 43 games. They rank third with 168 walks.
Bristol – In a ten-team league, only one club has struck out less often than the Pirates. Their 316 strikeouts ranks ninth in the league, just four more than the best team. Bristol ranks seventh with 134 walks.
GCL Pirates – The Pirates rank 12th in strikeouts and 11th in walks in the 18-team league. The middle teams in the league are all fairly close together, so the Pirates are in a tight group of average teams in each category.
DSL Pirates1 – In a 45-team league, the Pirates1 rank 35th in strikeouts and 39th in walks. So basically, they are putting the ball in play often.
DSL Pirates2 – The Pirates2 rank 44th in strikeouts and 35th in walks. So basically, they are putting the ball in play often.
I actually expected worse going into this article. Turns out that it’s just been Bradenton and Altoona skewing the strikeout totals and it’s really not worst case for the Curve, with three teams in their league striking out more often. It’s not a great showing either, as the strikeouts are fine as a whole, but the walks are low. Only Greensboro and Morgantown are doing well in that category.
TODAY’S SCHEDULE
Today’s Starter and Notes: The Pittsburgh Pirates were off yesterday, as they travel home for three games against the New York Mets this weekend, followed by three more against the Milwaukee Brewers. They send out Trevor Williams tonight, making his second straight start against the Mets. He went seven innings last time out, allowing three runs on four hits and two walks, with seven strikeouts. His previous start was at home against the St Louis Cardinals, where he gave up one run over five innings. Williams has a 5.71 ERA at home and 4.33 on the road. The Mets will counter with lefty Steven Matz, who threw a complete game shutout against the Pirates six days ago. He has a 4.32 ERA in 100 innings, with 93 strikeouts and a 1.38 WHIP. Matz has a 6.40 road ERA this season, compared to 2.06 at home.
The minor league schedule includes Michael Burrows making his first start in two weeks. He was skipped in the rotation to help control his innings (most were in Extended Spring Training). In his last two starts combined, Burrows allowed one run over 8.1 innings. Mitch Keller goes for Indianapolis, trying to bounce back from five runs over 4.2 innings in his last start. It was his shortest outing since he went three innings on May 8th. Keller leads the league with a 3.41 ERA, a 1.25 WHIP and 111 strikeouts. Alex Manasa goes for Greensboro, making his 20th start. He threw six shutout innings in his last game. In his previous two starts combined, Manasa allowed nine runs over eight innings.
Luis Ortiz gets the start for Bristol. He allowed one run over 11 innings in his last two starts combined. Gavin Wallace will get the start today for Bradenton. He gave up one run over six innings in his last start, and threw four shutout innings last time he faced today’s opponent (Dunedin). Altoona is sending out Sean Brady, who has given up 11 runs on 19 hits in his last 12 innings. In his seven prior outings, he allowed either one or two earned runs and pitched at least six innings each game.
MLB: Pittsburgh (47-61) vs Mets (53-55) 7:05 PM
Probable starter: Trevor Williams (4.87 ERA, 75:20 SO/BB, 88.2 IP)
AAA: Indianapolis (56-53) vs Columbus (61-48) 7:15 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: Mitch Keller (3.41 ERA, 111:34 SO/BB, 97.2 IP)
AA: Altoona (55-54) @ Reading (64-46) 7:10 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: Sean Brady (4.13 ERA, 53:26 SO/BB, 93.2 IP)
High-A: Bradenton (58-48) @ Dunedin (62-43) 6:30 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: Gavin Wallace (4.07 ERA, 52:18 SO/BB, 73.0 IP)
Low-A: Greensboro (65-43) @ West Virginia (55-55) 7:05 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: Alex Manasa (3.43 ERA, 87:22 SO/BB, 107.2 IP)
Short-Season A: Morgantown (23-21) @ Hudson Valley (26-18) 7:05 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: Michael Burrows (3.38 ERA, 26:13 SO/BB, 24.0 IP)
Rookie: Bristol (19-21) @ Elizabethton (21-20) 6:30 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: Luis Ortiz (2.89 ERA, 24:8 SO/BB, 28.0 IP)
GCL: Pirates (11-19) vs Orioles (19-10) 12:00 PM (season preview)
DSL: Pirates1 (24-28) vs Red Sox2 (22-29) 10:30 AM (season preview)
DSL: Pirates2 (43-9) vs Tigers2 (23-28) 10:30 AM (season preview)
HIGHLIGHTS
From Altoona over the last few days, Oneil Cruz collects his first Double-A hit. It wasn’t a pretty swing, but it gets the job done
✅ First Double-A hit for Oneil Cruz #FullSteamAhead
Right field defensive highlights, with Bligh Madris one night…
Flight No. 7⃣. Cleared for takeoff.@Bligh_Guy grows wings and take extra bases away from Mandy Alvarez.
Off to the seventh with a 3-2 lead in Trenton pic.twitter.com/8EeuVdOUNq
— Altoona Curve (@AltoonaCurve) July 31, 2019
…and Darnell Sweeney the next
Another day. Another sweet catch in right field.
This one courtesy of @_SweeneySwag. pic.twitter.com/mRkXqpFW26
— Altoona Curve (@AltoonaCurve) August 1, 2019
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
8/1: Blake Weiman activated from Indianapolis injured list.
8/1: Austin Coley placed on Altoona injured list.
7/31: Pirates trade Corey Dickerson to Phillies for a player to be named later and international bonus slot money.
7/30: Oneil Cruz promoted to Altoona. Jerrick Suiter activated from injured list. Bralin Jackson placed on injured list. Gift Ngoepe released.
7/30: Pirates recall Geoff Hartlieb and Yefry Ramirez. Montana DuRapau and Alex McRae optioned to Indianapolis.
7/30: Elvis Escobar assigned to Morgantown on rehab.
7/30: Daniel Amaral activated from Bradenton injured list.
7/29: Jordan Lyles traded to Milwaukee Brewers for Cody Ponce. Montana DuRapau recalled from Indianapolis.
7/28: Darnell Sweeney assigned to Altoona. Alfredo Reyes assigned to Greensboro.
7/27: Pirates claim Parker Markel off waivers from Seattle Mariners.
7/27: Kyle Mottice placed on Greensboro injured list. Michael Gretler activated from injured list.
7/27: Angel German activated from suspended list.
7/27: Daniel Amaral sent to GCL Pirates on rehab.
7/27: Tyler Lyons returns to Indianapolis from paternity list.
7/26: Pirates sign Lewys Guzman, Jose Vasquez, Pedro Figuereo, Juan Santos
7/26: Osvaldo Bido promoted to Bradenton. Noe Toribio promoted to Greensboro. Trey McGough promoted to Morgantown. Lizardy Dicent assigned to Bristol on rehab.
7/25: Pirates recall Alex McRae. Luis Escobar optioned to Indianapolis.
7/25: Will Kobos promoted to Greensboro.
7/24: Keone Kela added to Pirates roster. Clay Holmes placed on injured list.
7/24: Angel German suspended by Altoona.
7/23: Brandon Waddell promoted to Indianapolis. Nicholas Economos promoted to Altoona. Conner Loeprich promoted to Bradenton. Winston Nicacio promoted to Greensboro. Oliver Garcia promoted to Morgantown. Miguel Peralta released.
7/23: Luis Nova placed on Greensboro injured list. Nick Mears placed on Bradenton injured list.
7/23: Tyler Lyons placed on paternity list. Eric Wood placed on temporary inactive list.
THIS DATE IN PIRATES HISTORY
Two former Pittsburgh Pirates players born on this date, plus a big trade of note. On this date in 1985, the Pittsburgh Pirates sent outfielder George Hendrick, reliever Al Holland and starter John Candelaria to the California Angels for outfielder Mike Brown and pitchers Bob Kipper and Pat Clements. It was a deal involving three veterans and three young players coming back to Pittsburgh. The Pirates lost over 100 games in 1985, but five years later, they had put together a team that would win three straight NL East pennants.
The two players born on this date both played on pennant winners, occurring 89 years apart. Tim Wakefield pitched for the 1992-93 Pirates. He was an eighth round draft pick of Pittsburgh in 1988, but he was a position player back then. He was switched to the mound the next year and didn’t take long to make it to the majors. As a rookie, he went 8-1, 2.15 in 13 starts, then threw two complete game victories in the NLCS. After a very poor 1993 season, he was released and it ended up hurting the Pirates. He would win 186 games for the Red Sox over 17 seasons.
The other player was pitcher Bucky Veil, who got the nickname because he was a star pitcher at Bucknell. He was a rookie on the 1903 Pirates, going 5-3, 3.82 in 70.2 innings. During the first modern day World Series, he pitched the last seven innings of game two, allowing one run. The next year, he pitched just one game for the Pirates, which ended up being his last Major League game.